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Presentation on theme: "The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution"— Presentation transcript:

2 Cultural Revolution and the study of non-democratic regimesLack of institutional checks on political authority readily allows extreme policiesLack of institutionalized mechanisms to address policy debates, leadership transitions, and mass participation in politics can lead to violence, instabilityRisks of violating separation of civilian and military leadershipUndermines military professionalismIncreases threat of military coupDemonstration of interplay between domestic politics and foreign policy

3 How did Cultural Revolution (1966-76) Proceed?Early 1960s: PreludeMao increasingly concerned about “revisionism”Mao supports series of campaigns to reassert Maoist values and priorities1966: CCP Central Committee “16-point Decision”launches mass struggle “to topple those in power who are taking the capitalist road”: Mass Phaseunleashing of students and masses against CCP“Conservative” and “Radical” Red GuardsEnded by sending million youth to rural areas: Civil-Military Conflictstruggle between PLA and CCPSoviet threat: “Brezhnev Doctrine”: Party ConflictUS-China rapproachment: Shanghai Communique 1972struggle for dominance within CCP

4 Prelude to the Cultural Revolutionfactors shaping Mao’s thinking“revisionism” in Soviet Unionconflict over correct socialist path“revisionism” in China“capitalist tendencies”question of succession to Maodissatisfaction with Liu Shaoqi Mao is worried about his legacy

5 Prelude to the Cultural RevolutionSeries of campaigns to reassert Maoist values and prioritiesSocialist Education Movement,revive commune system in agricultureLearn from the PLA under Minister of Defense Lin Biao, 1963“red” (Cult of Mao—”Little Red Book”) and expert (nukes)Other campaigns in health, education, and cultureHealth: ex—doctors to the countrysideEducation: ex—integrating manual labor into curriculumCulture: Jiang Qing, Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan Mao perceived that these campaigns failed because of obstructionism by Communist party apparatus

7 Primary Source Discussion: Sixteen-Point Decision August 1966What is the goal of the “Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution”?Who is intended to carry out this revolution?Who is expected to resist?Is there evidence of a power struggle? Policy struggle?What is significant about the approach to policy or personnel change in terms of organizational politics?

8 Primary Source Discussion: Sixteen-Point Decision August 1966What is the goal of the “Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution”?“to topple those in power taking the capitalist road”To attack “4 olds” (customs, habits, culture, thinking)Who is intended to carry out this revolution?“the broad sectors of workers, peasants, soldiers…”Who is expected to resist?those in the Party “taking the capitalist road”Is there evidence of a power struggle? Policy struggle?What is significant about the approach to policy or personnel change in terms of organizational politics?

9 What was the Cultural Revolution all about?At the elite levelpower struggle over succession to Maoi.e., who would shape the future?struggle over correct vision/policiesi.e., what would the future look like?

10 Cultural Revolution Poster"Revolutionary factions of the proletariat, unite and arise. Struggle against the power of the black Tianjin Communist Party Committee." Proclaimed by the United Revolutionary Rebel Committee of Artists and Writers, 1967

12 What was the Cultural Revolution all about? Mass PhaseAt the mass level“Conservative (Scarlet)”and “Radical” Red Guardsopportunity for people to challengesocial and economic cleavagescreated by the socialist system in China

13 What was the Cultural Revolution all about? Mass PhaseWhy so violent?Politics as only channel for social mobilityOnly opportunity to express discontentMao’s charismaTranscendent mission of revolutionEnds used to justify means13

14 Review: How did Cultural Revolution (1966-76) Proceed?: Mass Phaseunleashing of students and masses against CCP“Conservative” and “Radical” Red GuardsCollapse of party organization in some placesPhase ended by sending youth to rural areasMao: Red Guards had “failed him.”12-18 million sent to countryside by 197114

26 Any good results from Cultural Revolution?Broad-based provision of basic needsUnintended consequences—party/society more open to liberalizing reforms?Egalitarian starting point for reformOpportunities for women?—debate

27 Looking Back at the Cultural Revolution"The dream that we had at that time is not finished. I don't regret that time. We made a sacrifice for our ideals."— Shanghai Businessman"The Cultural Revolution was a barbaric and ignorant phenomenon. You couldn't have your own thoughts. If you didn't participate you would be criticized.... It was a Red Terror."— Retired Government WorkerSource:

28 Cultural Revolution and the study of non-democratic regimesLack of institutional checks on political authority readily allows extreme policiesLack of institutionalized mechanisms to address policy debates, leadership transitions, and mass participation in politics can lead to violence, instabilityRisks of violating separation of civilian and military leadershipUndermines military professionalismIncreases threat of military coup, civil warDemonstration of interplay between domestic politics and foreign policy

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